What can I do to feel less empty?

The answer has to be one of the more curious ironies.

How is it that a life lived in service of myself—working solely to meet my material needs (and perhaps those of a select few dear to me), have nice things, visit nice places, and overall be comfortable—makes me feel as if something is missing?

It’s a something more stuff, more entertainment, and more accumulation will not fill.

That something is a need of the soul.

And the primary movement of the soul is to give, to reach out, to create. That’s what’s missing.

This giving, this reaching out is always for the benefit of other. 

But, strangely, this kind of giving fills us up in return.

We feel fulfilled to genuinely reach out and touch the life of another human being. An essential area of our life gets satisfied—like water to the roots.

It’s why some of the greats, like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Ramana Maharshi, Yogananda and so on had only the most basic material requirements. Their fulfillment came from the spark of a life lived in service to other.

This sort of giving is something you can practice, if you want.

It starts with identifying what to give. Should you just randomly go volunteer your time at an organization doing good? Maybe, if you feel called.

It’s this calling to follow. In which direction are you pulled to give? What natural skills and abilities do you have?

Maybe it’s writing. Singing. Web design.

In what ways can you give of your natural skills and abilities to other with total disregard to the needs of your self?

The answer to that question is the direction to head in.

That direction will lead you to effortless living and true fulfillment.

A life lived in service to other, is a life lived in service to Self.